Tartar develops if plaque adheres to the tooth for a longer period of time. The dental plaque ingests mineral compounds of the saliva and gets hard – this will change to tartar.
Visible tartar grows rapidly but frequently may be removed by the dental hygienist with a scraper or ultrasound. In this case, the toothbrush alone may not help anymore. Tartar always will be coated with plaque and must be removed regularly. Therefore, two times a year a professional oral hygiene should be performed by a dentist.